Recording apparatus



Nov. 14, 1944. K. MARROW M v2,362,758

RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July e, 1942 Wlan/m @.W

TTORNEY Patented Nov. 14, 1944 I oFFlcE RECORDING APPARATUS Kirkpatrick Marrow ma Henry E. Dostalik,

y Elizabeth, N. J.

ApplicationJuly s, 1942, serial No. 450,124-

12 Claims Our invention relates to a portable recording apparatus, more particularly portable 'fingerprinting apparatus.

Apparatus available at the present time for recording fingerprints is usually heavy and not readily portable from one point to another. This` is a decided disadvantage where it is necessary to record a large number of fingerprints in various departments of large organizations. The usual form of apparatus requires considerable table space and is laid out along the table, separate units such as inking pad, card holder and other elements being disposed successively along a given table area. The disadvantages of this arrangement are rst that the parts being at table level require individuals vtoassume awkward positions and to shift their bodies in performing the successive operations in taking the impressions. In addition they inking pad being to either side is not protected against the brushing of clothing against the pad, particularly the sleeves of the person being fingerprinted. This causes soiled and stained clothing. It is also diflicult to handle the persons being ngerprinted since it requires the operator to shift not only his own position but that of the one being fingerprinted.

In the usual form of apparatus the end of the card which is not in use is foldedrover the edge of the shelf upon which the impression is to be taken. The end of the card which overhangs catches on the sleeves of the persons being fingerprinted, thus interfering with the efcient taking of an impression, often causing smearing and need for taking a second record. The apparatus is usually of metal, which at times is a scarce material, and in addition adds a great amount of weight to the apparatus.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide a portable recording apparatus, which is light in weight, compact and made as a single unit, and which requires a nminimum of space during operation. p

Another object of our invention is to provide a recording apparatus particularly suitable for fingerprinting, in which the inking` slab while conveniently positioned for use is out of the way and prevents' soiling of clothing.

Another object of our invention is to provide a recording apparatus in which the elements of the apparatus are so arranged that shifting of the body of the operator and theY one being ngerprinted is avoided and efficient operation is insured in the process of taking impressions. A further object of our invention is to provide such a device in which the record card is firmly and securely held in the proper position but with all parts of the card so` positioned that interference with the operation of fingerprinting is` avoided and taking of the impression is facilitated.

A still further object of our invention is to provide such a device which is made of material readily available at all times.

The novel features which we believe to be characteristic of our invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims, but the invention itself will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective of our apparatus in closed position ready for carrying, Figure 2 is a perspective of the apparatus opened to operating position! Figure 3 is `a longitudinal section showing details of construction of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is an exploded partial perspective showing details of the record card holder, Figure 5 is a partial section showing the elements for holding the record card in place. i f

As shown in Figure 1 our apparatus is a combined carrying and storing case and operating unit having sides IIJ and II, back I2 and base I3. Pivotally mounted at the top of the case is a rotatable shelf I4 having attached to one side the carrying handle I6 and on one edge a stud I 'I for purposes to be described. Mounted on the other side of the shelf is the inking plate or platen 20. In the position shown in Figure 1 the inner end of the shelfabuts against the stop member I8 to prevent further rotation of the shelf, the handle I6 being placed oi center with respect to the pivot I5 so that rotation while carrying is prevented and the case locked in closed position in a manner to be described. As shown in Figure 3 when in operating position the stud I1 on the shelf III isv engaged by a pivoted latch I9.

j As shown in Figure l, the front of the carrying case is closed by means of pivoted shelf 2| pivoted at 22. Secured near the sides and to the surface of the shelf 2| are the resilient straps 23 and 24 secured at one end by screws 23' and 24'. The purpose. of. these resilient straps Will be described below. Pivoted to the lower front edge of the base I3 is the member 21 which may be locked in position bymeans of the pivoted latch 28. Shelves I4,' 2| and member 21 rotate as indicated by the arrows shown in Figure 3.

In the closed position shown in Figure 1 the -22 is provided atk its back edge with apertured element 25 engaged byv the spring latch 26 so that the shelf is locked inoperating position as best shown in Figure 3.

The card holding device is best shown in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive. As shown the underside of the shelf 2| is beveled upwardly and tol the front and this beveled portion has fixed to itin spaced relation a rail member 30 by means of` wedges such as 3l and 3l' fixed between the shelf 2| and rail 30 providing an aperture of decreasing cross section toward the rear of the shelf, the rear eXit space being justsucient to permit a card to be inserted. This arrangement insures that the free end of the card which is not in use is out of the way so that it does not interfere with the operation of takingimpressions. The part on which the impression is to be made is folded back against the top of the shelf and the member 32 having nger elements 33 and 34 is pushed across the top surface against the top of the card and under the beveled front edges of the resilient ,strap members 23 and 24, thus holding the card firmly fixed in position While the impression is made. The card can be quickly released and shifted with respect. to the holding device.

As shown the inking pad is above the rest of the apparatus and when the fingers of the person to be ingerprinted are inked they are simply shifted to the next lower shelf and the impressions made there. Thus lthe inking pad is out of the way, insuring no damage to the clothing of the persons whose impressions are being taken. The excess part of the card is out of the way, thus preventing interference with the operation of taking impressions. The lower i part of the case may be utilized for carrying necessary supplies, such as ink, roller, records and so on.`

Thus we have provided a recording apparatus which accomplishes all of the objects set forth above.` It is light, it is portable. All elements are positioned for insuring the most efficient operation. The table area required is reduced to a minimum, ,the danger of soiling due to the inking pad is eliminated, and the card is securely held out of an interfering position during operation. Further, because of the arrangement of all elements, it is unnecessary to clean the inking slab when carrying the apparatus from one position to another for taking other impressions. This feature is a timey saver and reduces the loss of valuable ink.

As a modification the card holding device could also be applied to lower pivoted member 21 for use on children if desired. The device does not require awkward shifting of the operator and tions may be made in the particular structure used and the purpose for which it is employed without departing from the scope of our invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim as new is:

1. An apparatus for recording impressions, including a case having a rotatable shelf closing one end of said case said shelf being operable between operating and closedA positions, an inking slab on said shelf, a second rotatable shelf below said rst shelf and intermediate the-rst shelf and the other end of said casing, said second shelf being operable between operating and closed positions, and having means for detachably xing a record form on which an impression is to be made, said shelves when in closed position being interlocked and means for maintaining said shelves in interlocked position.

2. An apparatus for recording impressions including a portable case having a rotatable shelf closing one end of said case, an inking slab on said shelf said shelf being pivoted intermediate its ends and rotatable between operating and non-operating positions, said inking slab lying within said casing when said shelf is in non-operating position, a second rotatable shelf below said rst shelf and intermediate said first shelf and the other end of said case and rotatable between operating and closed positions and having means for detachably fixing a record form on which an impression is to be made, and means for locking said second rotatable shelf in closed position.

3. An apparatus for recording impressions, including a portable casing, a rotatable shelf for closing one end of said casing, an inking slab on said shelf, said shelf being rotatable between non-operating and operating positions, a second rotatable shelf forming a second closure member for said casing and intermediate the rst shelf and the other end of the casing, and means on said second shelf for detachably fixing a record form on which an impression is to be made, said second shelf being pivoted intermediate its ends and movable between a horizontal operating position and a closed position, and means for locking said second shelf in a horizontal operating position and in the closed nonoperating position.

4. An apparatus for recording impressions including a portable casing having a rotatable shelf closing one end of said casing, an inking slab on lsaid shelf, said shelf being rotatable between operating and non-operating positions, said inking slab lying within said casing when said shelf is in non-operating position, a second rotatable shelf below said rst shelf and forrning a second closure member for said casing and having means for detachably xing a record vfirst shelf and the other end of the casing, and

means on said second shelf for detachably fixing a record form on which an impression is to be made, and a closure member for said casing cooperating with said first and second shelves for providing an interlocked closure arrangement when said apparatus is in non-operating position ready for transportation.

6. An apparatus for recording impressions including a shelf for supporting a record form, said shelf having on the under side thereof a rail near one edge and spaced from the under surface of said shelf and providing an aperture through which one end of lsaid record form may be inserted, a pair of resilient strap members fixed at one end to said shelf and positioned to permit a record form to lie between said strap members and an element for engaging the record form and the free ends of said strap members for detachably fixing the other end of said record form to `said shelf.

7. An apparatus for recording impressions including a shelf for supporting a record form, said shelf having on the under side thereof a rail adjacent an edge thereof, V-shaped wedges at the ends of said`rail for supporting said rail in spaced relation with the underside of said shelf and providing an aperture through which one end of said recordform may be inserted, a pair of resilient strap members fixed at one end to said shelf and positionedto permit a record form to lie between said strap members and an element for engaging the other end of said record form and the free ends of said strap members for detachably fixing the other end of said record form to said shelf.

8. An apparatus for recording impressions, including a case having a shelf, an inking slab on said shelf, a second shelf below said first shelf and having means for detachably fixing a record form on which the impression is to be made, said means including a pair of resilient strap members fixed at one end to said second shelf and positioned to permit a record form to lie between said strap members and an element for engaging the record form and the free ends of said strap members for detachably fixing theV record form to said shelf.

9. An apparatus for recording impressions, in cluding a portable casing, a first rotatable shelf for closing one end of said casing, an inking slab on said shelf, said shelf being rotatable between non-operating and operating positions, said inking slab being within said casing when said shelf is in `non-operating position, a second rotatable shelf forming a second closure member for said casing and intermediate the first shelf and the other end of the casing, and means on said second shelf for detachably fixing a record form on which an impression is to be made, said means including a pair of resilient strap members fixed at one end to said shelf and positioned to permit a record form to lie between said strap members and an element for engaging the record form and the free ends of said straps for detachably fixing the record form to said shelf, and a, closure member for said casing cooperating with said first and second shelves for providing, an interlocked closure arrangement when said apparatus is in non-operating position ready for transportation.

10. An apparatus for recording impressions,V

including a portable casing, a first rotatable shelf closing one end of said casing, an inking slab on said shelf, a second rotatable shelf below said first shelf and forming a second closure member for said casing and intermediate the first shelf and the other end of said casing, and having means for detachably fixing a record form on which an impression is to be made, and a member rotatably supported on said apparatus at the other end of said casing and engaging said second rotatable shelf when said second rotatable shelf is in closed position for locking said shelf against rotation, said first rotatable shelf in non-operating position interlocking with said second rotatable shelf to prevent rotation of said first rotatable shelf.

11. An apparatus for recording impressions, including a portable case having a shelf closing one end of said case, an ink slab on said shelf, a second rotatableshelf below said first shelf and forming a second closure member for said case, and having means for detachably fixing a record form on which an impression is to be made, said second shelf being rotatable between a horizontal operating position and a closed position, and means for locking said shelf in said horizontal operating position.

12. An apparatus for recording impressions, including a case having a shelf, an inking slab on said shelf, said shelf being pivoted intermediate its ends to be rotated through substantially between operating and non-operating positions, a second shelf below said first shelf having means for detachably fixing a record on which an impression is to be made, said second shelf being rotatable between an operating and a closed non-operating position, said first shelf being provided with a carrying handle positioned between the pivot of the first shelf and the wall of said casing when said shelf is in a non-operating position, said second shelf interlocking with said first shelf when said shelves are in nonoperating position'for carrying said casing.

KIRKPATRICK MARROW. HENRY E. DOSTALIK. 

